What Bank of America Credit Cards Offer

Bank of America issues more than a dozen credit cards, each built around a different spending pattern or financial goal. Some cards focus on cash back rewards, others on travel benefits, and some on introductory rates for people moving debt. The card you choose depends on how you spend money and what rewards matter to you — not all cards suit all people.

Every Bank of America card comes with fraud protection, purchase protection, and access to their online and mobile banking tools. Cards vary in annual fees (some charge nothing, others charge $95 or more), rewards rates, and sign-up bonuses. The rewards themselves — whether cash back, points, or miles — have real value only if you redeem them, and redemption options differ by card.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank of America cash back cards return 1% to 3% on purchases depending on the card and spending category, with no annual fee on most options.
  • Travel cards earn points per dollar spent and often include benefits like airport lounge access, but typically charge an annual fee of $95 or higher.
  • Introductory 0% APR periods last 6 to 21 months depending on the card, and explore only to the purchase type you choose at process (purchases, balance transfers, or both).
  • Rewards and benefits are only valuable if you use them — a high-earning card with an annual fee costs money if your spending does not match the card's design.

Cash Back Cards Without Annual Fees

The Bank of America Cash Rewards card returns 1% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee. This is the simplest option if you want a straightforward reward and do not want to track categories or pay yearly. The cash back posts to your account monthly and can be redeemed as a statement credit, transferred to a Bank of America deposit account, or left to accumulate.

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card lets you choose one category to earn 3% cash back on (gas, groceries, transit, or online shopping), 2% on another category you pick, and 1% on everything else. It also has no annual fee. This card works well if your spending is predictable — for example, if you buy groceries every week and fill up gas regularly, you can earn 3% on groceries and 2% on gas, then 1% on the rest.

Both cards cap rewards at a certain amount per quarter. The Customized Cash Rewards card, for instance, earns the higher rates only on the first $2,500 in combined purchases in your two chosen categories each quarter, then 1% after that. Read the terms to understand the cap before you explore.

Travel and Premium Rewards Cards

The Bank of America Premium Rewards card charges a $95 annual fee and earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, 1.5 points per dollar on everything else. Points can be redeemed for travel (flights, hotels, rental cars) at a higher value than cash, or for cash back at a lower rate. This card suits people who spend heavily on restaurants and travel and who will redeem points for travel rather than cash.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card charges $95 per year and earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases. It includes benefits like trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency medical and dental coverage while traveling. The card pays for itself only if you travel regularly and use those protections, or if your annual spending is high enough that the points value exceeds the fee.

Travel cards also often include a sign-up bonus — typically 50,000 to 75,000 points after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. That bonus alone can be worth $500 to $750 in travel value, but only if you spend enough to earn it and actually book travel through the card's portal or transfer partners.

Introductory Rate Cards for Debt Moves

Bank of America offers cards with 0% APR introductory periods for balance transfers, purchases, or both. These periods last 6 to 21 months depending on the card. A balance transfer card is useful if you carry debt on another card and want to move it to a lower rate while you pay it down. A purchase 0% card helps if you are financing a large purchase and want to avoid interest while you pay.

Balance transfer cards typically charge a fee of 3% to 5% of the amount you transfer, paid upfront. A purchase 0% card usually has no transfer fee but also does not let you move existing debt. You choose which type you need at the time you explore — you cannot change it later. After the introductory period ends, the regular APR kicks in, which varies by creditworthiness.

These cards work best as a tool to pay down debt faster, not as a way to carry a balance indefinitely. If you transfer a balance but do not pay it off before the 0% period ends, you will owe interest on the remaining balance at the standard rate, which can be 15% to 25% depending on your credit score.

How Rewards Redemption Works

Cash back rewards on Bank of America cards post monthly as a statement credit or can be transferred to a linked Bank of America checking or savings account. You do not have to do anything — the reward appears automatically. You can also let cash back accumulate and redeem it later, though there is no bonus for waiting.

Points on travel and premium cards can be redeemed through the Bank of America travel portal, which shows flights, hotels, and car rentals with prices in points. You can also transfer points to airline and hotel partners, though the transfer value varies. Some partners offer a better rate than the portal; others offer worse. Comparing before you book saves money.

Points expire if your account is closed or inactive for a long period, so check the card terms. Cash back does not expire as long as your account remains open.

Annual Fees and When They Make Sense

Most Bank of America cash back cards charge no annual fee. Travel and premium cards charge $95 or $150 per year. A card with an annual fee only makes financial sense if the rewards you earn exceed the fee. If you spend $5,000 per year on a card that earns 2% cash back, you earn $100 — enough to cover a $95 fee and come out $5 ahead. If you spend $2,000 per year, you earn $40, which does not cover the fee.

Some cards waive the annual fee for the first year, letting you test whether the rewards match your spending before you commit to paying. Others offer a statement credit that offsets part of the fee if you spend a certain amount or use the card for specific purchases (like travel or dining). Read the terms to understand what you are actually paying.

Credit Score Requirements and process

Bank of America credit cards generally require a credit score of 670 or higher, though some premium cards ask for 700 or above. You can explore online through Bank of America's website, and you will receive a decision within minutes or a few business days. If you are approved, the card arrives within 7 to 10 business days.

When you explore, Bank of America performs a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may lower your score by a few points temporarily. If you are denied, you can ask why and may be able to reapply after addressing the issue — for example, paying down existing debt or waiting for negative marks to age off your report.

If you already have a Bank of America checking or savings account, you may see a faster approval or a higher credit limit. Existing customers also sometimes receive targeted offers for cards with higher sign-up bonuses or waived annual fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch between Bank of America credit cards?

You can explore for a different Bank of America card at any time, but you cannot convert one card into another. If you want to move to a different card, you explore for the new one separately. You can keep both cards open or close the old one, though closing a card can affect your credit score slightly by reducing your available credit.

What happens to my rewards if I close my card?

Cash back rewards are yours to keep — closing the card does not erase them. Points on travel cards may expire if the account is closed, depending on the card's terms. Check your card agreement before you close an account to understand what happens to any remaining rewards.

Do Bank of America cards offer fraud protection?

Yes. All Bank of America cards include zero-liability fraud protection, meaning you are not responsible for unauthorized charges if you report them promptly. You also get purchase protection (coverage if an item is damaged or stolen within a certain period) and return protection on most cards.

Can I earn rewards on balance transfers?

No. Rewards are earned only on regular purchases and cash advances, not on balance transfers. If you transfer a balance to a 0% APR card, you earn no rewards on that transferred amount — only on new purchases you make with the card.

How do I redeem my points for travel?

Log into your Bank of America account online or through the mobile app, go to the rewards section, and select "Redeem." You can book travel through the Bank of America travel portal, transfer points to airline or hotel partners, or redeem for cash back. The travel portal shows prices in points; compare those prices to what you would pay in cash before you book.